Doctor of Medicine

Domestic school leaver applications for UWA Medicine via Biomedicine (Specialised) are via TISC, and will open in line with TISC timelines, closing late September. 

Entry into this course is a competitive process based on ATAR or equivalent, UCAT ANZ score and an interview process. Minimum eligibility requirement must be met to be considered for a place.

Successful applicants will receive a conditional place in the Doctor of Medicine (MD). School leaver entry in the MD is conditional upon successful completion of UWA's Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) with the Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice major, and achieving a minimum selection GPA of 5.5 within the first two years of the Bachelor's degree. The Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice major provides one year of credit towards the MD, allowing completion of both degrees in six years of full time study.

Eligibility requirements

• Minimum ATAR 98 for Rural, Broadway and/or High Academic Achievers (HAA). Minimum ATAR 90 for applicants who are eligible for the Indigenous school leaver pathway (contact the School of Indigenous Studies for more information).
• UCAT ANZ score
• Interview
• English language competency

For the Broadway and Rural quotas the ATAR minimum is after applicable Broadway adjustments. HAA eligibility is on the basis of ATAR prior to any Broadway adjustment. EAS or Uway adjustments are taken into account for all quotas. There are a small number of places available for domestic school leavers who have completed Year 12 or equivalent at a school outside of Western Australia and have achieved the minimum ATAR or equivalent.

Details about quota eligibility can be found under the heading Which entry pathway? on the admissions tab on the MD course page.

Application process and timelines

• Applicants must register for and sit UCAT ANZ during the year of application (registrations usually close during May, test sittings take place during July and August).
• Applicants are required to lodge a TISC application.
• Applications will open according to TISC timelines and close late September.
• UWA's Rural eligibility form must be submitted via TISC by the TISC closing date for Medicine.
• Refer to the TISC guide for current course codes and application deadlines.
• Notifications regarding interview eligibility will be sent via email during the week commencing 18 November 2024 (after WACE exams are complete)
• Interviews for all domestic school leavers are planned to take place during selected dates within the period 25 November through 8 December 2024. Be aware that not all dates within this range will be available. Information regarding specific dates will be provided to shortlisted candidates. Candidates who cannot attend their interview within the offered date range cannot be guaranteed an alternative date.
• Course offers will be as per TISC timelines.

Final ranking for course offers

• Final ranking will be based on ATAR or equivalent (30%), interview (50%) and UCAT ANZ score (20%)
• Final ranking for Rural applicants will be based on ATAR or equivalent (22.5%), interview (37.5%), UCAT ANZ score (15%), and rurality rating (25%)
• School leavers may defer an offer for one year. School leavers with Australian permanent residency or dual citizenship who have National Service obligations may defer up to two years.

UCAT ANZ – University Clinical Aptitude Test

All applicants to the domestic High Academic Achiever, Rural and Broadway Assured Pathways to Medicine must sit the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT ANZ). UCAT ANZ must be sat during the application year, that is, the year prior to commencement in the Assured Pathway. UCAT ANZ assesses a range of attributes identified as important by university medical and dental schools for success in their programs or courses, and later as a clinician.

Free, comprehensive preparation materials, including an online guide, tutorials, question banks and practice tests are available on the UCAT ANZ official website.

All resources contained on the UCAT ANZ website are FREE. Candidates should be aware that while third party organisations may charge fees for books, courses and coaching, these organisations do not have access to any information which is not already freely available.  UWA does not recommend or endorse any commercially available courses offering admissions test preparation, including those held on UWA grounds.

UCAT ANZ results

UWA will use the overall UCAT ANZ score which is generated by UCAT ANZ, summing the individual scale scores of Verbal Reasoning, Decision Making, Quantitative Reasoning and Abstract Reasoning. The total scale score ranges from 1200 to 3600. The Situational Judgement section has its own score. While this section of the test is not currently part of the overall score, UWA reserves the right to use the Situational Judgement score as part of its selection processes.

Your UCAT ANZ score will be available within 24 hours of sitting the test. The UCAT ANZ Office provides results for all candidates direct to the University. Ensure that you provide your correct UCAT ANZ id with your TISC application. 

Invitations for interview will be based on UCAT ANZ performance. There is no set minimum score requirement; the UCAT ANZ threshold is set by ranking within each quota each year. Minimum results from previous years are not published as these do not provide meaningful predictive information for future applicants.

Applicants must sit UCAT ANZ the year of application (that is, the year prior to commencement). The UCAT ANZ score cannot be carried over from a previous application year.

Prerequisite and recommended subjects

Student who attain a school leaver place in UWA Medicine will first complete a UWA's Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) and then progress into the MD. In addition to English language competency requirements, the following ATAR or equivalent subjects are recommended, or may be taken as Level 1 university units:

• Chemistry 
• Maths Applications or higher

Students who plan to apply for school leaver entry into the MD should prioritise getting their highest possible marks. Students who have not undertaken prerequisite ATAR or equivalent subjects are able to undertake bridging units as part of their bachelor’s degree studies.

In accordance with the Department of Health and Aged Care, 28.5 per cent of all Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) in UWA’s MD have been designated as bonded medical places (BMPs). 

Students who accept a bonded medical place agree to work in areas of workforce shortage for a period defined by the Government, ensuring that Australia’s medical workforce is well distributed, flexible and targeted to areas of most need.

Bonded places are available to domestic applicants. Graduate applicants may indicate that they wish to be considered as part of their GEMSAS application. School leaver applicants are not required to specify a TISC preference for a BMP.  BMPs will be allocated across all domestic quotas according to the ranked list.

MD students who have accepted a Bonded Medical Place agree to work in an area of workforce shortage for a period specified by the Department of Health after they have graduated.  

Further information on the current BMP Scheme, including the Deed of Agreement, is available on the Department of Health BMP website.

International school leavers may apply direct via UWA's online application system, or via an authorised international education agent. 

Entry into this course is a competitive process based on ATAR or equivalent, ISAT score and an interview process.

Successful applicants will receive a conditional place in the Doctor of Medicine (MD). An International school leaver place in the MD is conditional upon successful completion of a UWA's Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) with the Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practices major, and achieving a minimum selection GPA of 5.5 within the first two years of the Bachelor's degree. The Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice major provides one year of credit towards the MD, allowing completion of both degrees in six years of full time study.

Application process and timelines

• Applications open on 1 January and close on 30 June the year prior to course commencement.
• Use your name as it appears on your passport when submitting your application and when registering for the ISAT.
• To be considered you must register for and sit the ISAT such that your result will be available prior to the application closing date. Please refer to further information below regarding ISAT.
• If your final results will not be available by the application closing date you must submit a Predicted ATAR form (fillable RTF 908KB).
• Applications are via UWA’s online application portal (see instructions below). International students may also apply via an authorised international education agent. 

To apply for international school leaver entry into Medicine:

• Go to the application portal (agents use the agent portal).

• Select the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised).

• On the Course Details tab you will be asked four pathway questions. For question one, choose Doctor of Medicine.

• The next three questions allow you to select your second, third and fourth preferences. 

• For each question choose from Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, or the Medical Science major for the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) as a standalone degree. You can also indicate that you do not wish to be considered for any of the other options. 

• Complete and submit your application by following the remaining prompts.

• Late applications will not be considered.

Interview period

Interview ranking and notification regarding interview shortlisting will take place after the application closing date..

Interviews for international school leaver applicants will be held during late July and early August in Perth, specified overseas locations, and online (venues subject to availability).  Shortlisted candidates will be provided with information regarding overseas interview locations after the application closing date.

Course offers, commencement and deferral

• Course offers will commence in August and will continue on a rolling basis until all places are filled.
• Applicants who attain a school leaver place in Medicine will commence in the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) in Semester 1 (late February).
• Applicants who are offered an International school leaver place in Medicine may defer commencement for one year. Students who are required to fulfil a national service obligation may defer for up to two years.

Minimum ATAR or equivalent

International school leaver status

Assured Pathways are exclusive to school leaver applicants, that is, in progress of Australian year 12 or equivalent, on a gap year, or undertaking a national service obligation directly following school completion, and have not commenced in university studies or vocational training at AQF diploma level or above.

• You are an international applicant if you do not hold Australian or New Zealand Citizenship, or Australian Permanent Residency. Australian Citizens who hold dual citizenship must apply for a domestic place.
• You must not have commenced tertiary studies, including university degree studies or vocational training at diploma level or above. Students who commence in the first semester of tertiary studies while awaiting an offer must withdraw from studies prior to academic census at their home institution to retain their school leaver eligibility (that is, withdraw without academic penalty such that no results appear on the transcript including Fails). Applicants who have commenced in tertiary studies may work towards an application for Graduate Entry.
• Contact Admissions if you have any doubt as to whether a proposed course of action will impact your eligibility.

International Student Admissions Test (ISAT)

• International students who plan to apply for an Assured Pathway to the MD must provide a valid ISAT result by the application closing date. 
• For 2025 commencement, ISAT scores will be accepted from tests sat during 2022, 2023, and 2024 test windows 1 and 2. Results from later 2024 test windows cannot be accepted in support of applications for 2025 commencement.
• The test can be sat only once within a 12-month period. If you have more than one valid result, the higher score will be used (not necessarily the most recent score).
• Your ISAT registration number must be provided with your application.
• To be eligible for consideration, your ISAT score must meet or exceed the 25th percentile in both sections of the test: Critical reasoning and Quantitative reasoning.
• When registering for ISAT, use your name as shown on your passport. This will ensure that UWA can verify your ISAT result.
• Refer to ISAT information provided by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) including preparation strategies, registration, test dates and test venues.
• The test measures skills acquired over a period of time rather than particular subject knowledge. It is recommended to prepare for ISAT using the sample questions provided on the official ISAT website. Reading widely and engaging critically with written material will also help to improve speed of reading comprehension and analytical skills.
• UWA does not endorse third party preparation courses, including those held on University premises.  

Final ranking

Final ranking will be based on ATAR or equivalent (30%), interview (50%) and ISAT score (20%)

Prerequisite and recommended subjects

Assured Pathway students must undertake the Bachelor of Biomedicine (Specialised) with the Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice major before commencing the MD.

School leavers must meet UWA's English language requirements for undergraduate entry.

The following ATAR or equivalent subjects are recommended, or may be taken as Level 1 university units:

• Chemistry
• Maths Applications or higher

Students who have not undertaken prerequisite ATAR or equivalent subjects are able to undertake bridging units as part of their bachelor’s degree studies.

The Admissions team can help should you have any queries regarding quota eligibility.

Domestic
Australian citizens (including dual citizenship holders), permanent residents and New Zealand citizens must apply for a domestic place.

International
Applicants who are not Australian citizens, permanent residents or New Zealand citizens, must apply for an international place. International students who have applied or are intending to apply for Australian permanent residency or citizenship need to be aware of the following:

• An offer for an international place will lapse if residency status changes before commencement. Applicants in this situation will need to re-apply during the next admissions period for a domestic place.
• A student whose residency status changes after commencement in a course subject to quotas cannot be guaranteed a domestic place.
• International school leavers must retain their international student status to take up their postgraduate International place

School leaver (domestic or international)
A school leaver applicant is currently completing high school ATAR (or equivalent level studies) or on a gap year, and has not commenced in university degree studies or vocational training at diploma level or above. A school leaver in progress of a national service obligation is considered to be on a gap year until completion.  

Graduate applicant (domestic or international)
A graduate applicant has completed or will soon complete a recognised Bachelor’s degree. The earliest a student may apply for graduate entry is during the final year of their initial Bachelor’s degree.

Rural (Domestic graduates and school leavers)
The Rural program is part of a Federal Government initiative to address workforce shortages in medicine, dentistry, and allied healthcare in regional, rural and remote Australia. To be eligible, an applicant’s principal home address must have been in an area defined by the Department of Health as regional, rural or remote according to the Modified Monash Model (MMM) for any five years consecutively or at least 10 years cumulatively. A search engine for eligible locations can be found on the DoctorConnect website - click on Modified Monash Model 2019.  The MMM 2019 rates locations based on 2016 census data on a scale of 1 - 7. If you are a domestic student who lives or has lived in areas rated MM-2 through MM-7 for the defined periods you may be eligible for consideration within the Rural quota.

Domestic school leaver applicants for Medicine, Dentistry, Podiatric Medicine or Pharmacy who believe they fit the rural definition must submit UWA's Rural Eligibility form with their TISC application to be considered for a Rural place. 

Domestic graduate applicants for Dentistry, Podiatric Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy or Social Work who believe they fit the rural definition must submit UWA's Rural Eligibility form with their UWA application to be considered for a Rural place. 

Domestic graduate applicants for Medicine will indicate their eligibility via GEMSAS. 

Indigenous (Domestic graduates and school leavers)
Applicants who identify as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are accepted as such by the community in which they live, or have lived, are eligible for consideration as an Indigenous applicant. Applicants must provide a person or organisation who can verify their Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status.

School leaver applicants may initially contact either the School of Indigenous Studies or the Admissions team for additional guidance regarding this pathway.

Graduate applicants may initially contact the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) or the Admissions team for additional guidance regarding this pathway.

Broadway (domestic school leavers)
Broadway UWA is designed to ensure access to UWA courses is available to the broadest range of students with the potential to succeed at university. The program aims to increase the diversity in the student cohorts within health care courses at UWA.

Specified schools are invited to participate in this program. You are eligible for consideration as a Broadway Assured Pathway applicant if you have undertaken your entire Year 12 studies, including WACE, at a UWA Broadway school.  

Broadway eligible school-leaver applicants will indicate their school as part of their TISC application. Contact the Admissions team should you have further queries.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for admission into the MD, an applicant must have:

• a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA. Recognised bachelor’s degrees are those conferred by Australian universities or higher education institutions recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework or the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR). While academic results from postgraduate study will be taken into account, postgraduate studies undertaken without a bachelor’s degree cannot be accepted as an equivalent qualification. Refer to information below regarding accepted degrees.
• the equivalent of selection Grade Point Average (sGPA) of at least 5.5, and
• a Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT) overall score of at least 55 and no section score less than 50.

International applicants for the MD may sit the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in place of the GAMSAT and require an overall minimum MCAT score of 500 with no section under 124. Refer to information below regarding Graduate Admissions Tests.

Applicants are initially ranked according to GPA and GAMSAT/MCAT, with the highest-ranking applicants being offered an interview.  

After the interviews, candidates will be ranked by GPA, GAMSAT/MCAT and interview score, with the highest-ranking applicants being offered a place. Rural applicants will be ranked based on GAMSAT, GPA interview and rurality rating.

Please refer to the information below for details regarding the admissions and selection process. The Future Students team will be happy to assist with any further queries.

Application timelines and due dates

Application deadlines

• For Domestic appplicants, including Rural eligible applicants, graduate applications for the Doctor of Medicine are via GEMSAS. Domestic applications for entry to the MD will open and close in line with the GEMSAS timeline.
• Applicants who may be eligible to apply via an Indigenous pathway should contact the Admissions team or the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH).
• International applications open on 1 January the year prior to commencement, with the main round closing on 30 April and the second round on 30 June. Applications are via UWA’s online application system. International students may also apply via an authorised international education agent.

Submission of GAMSAT/MCAT scores

All applicants must submit a valid admissions test score by the application closing date.

All domestic applicants to the MD require a valid GAMSAT score.

International applicants to the MD may submit a GAMSAT or MCAT score. 

For details regarding validity periods, please refer to the heading below Graduate Admissions Test.

Applicants who hold more than one valid admissions test score may choose to use their best score in support of their application (not necessarily the most recent).

Interviews

• Applicants will be shortlisted for an interview based on GAMSAT or equivalent score and GPA (equally weighted).
• Interviews for Domestic applicants will take place around late September/early October. 
• For International applicants main round interviews are planned to be held during May. Second round interviews are planned to be held late July/early August.
• Applicants who are eligible for Indigenous entry should contact the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH) regarding interview timelines for the current admissions period.
• Shortlisted applicants are notified via email, usually one to two weeks prior to the interview date.

Course offers, commencement and deferral

• For Domestic applicants, MD offer rounds will commence in November according to the GEMSAS timeline.
• International main round offers will commence at the end of May, and second round offers will commence early August. 
• The MD course commences during January.
• An offer for a place in the MD cannot be deferred. When planning your application you should consider your personal circumstances and apply for the MD in an admissions period where you are prepared to commence should you receive an offer.

Final ranking

• Final ranking for non-rural domestic applicants to the MD will be based on GAMSAT (20%), GPA (30%) and interview (50%).
• Final ranking for rural applicants to the MD will be based on GAMSAT (15%), GPA (22.5%), interview (37.5%) and rurality rating (25%).
• Final ranking for applicants who are eligible for Indigenous entry will be based on GPA and interview by the Centre for Aboriginal Medical and Dental Health (CAMDH).
• Final ranking for international applicants to the MD will be based on GAMSAT (or equivalent) (20%), GPA (30%) and interview (50%). 

Graduate Admissions Test for Medicine (GAMSAT/MCAT)

GAMSAT

Domestic applicants for the MD must submit a valid GAMSAT score. GAMSAT scores are valid for four years as at the application closing date, that is, the earliest test date accepted for 2025 commencement is September 2020 and the latest is March 2024. Information regarding testing dates and locations is available on the GAMSAT website. Further information regarding GAMSAT preparation can be found below under prerequisites/recommended prior study.

GAMSAT minimum requirements

• Domestic MD: overall score of 55 with no section under 50
• International MD: overall score of 55 with no section under 50

MCAT

International graduate applicants to the MD may submit an MCAT result in place of GAMSAT. The MCAT is a standardised, multiple‐choice examination designed to assess the examinee's problem solving, critical thinking and knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to health studies including verbal reasoning, physical sciences and biological sciences. Information on the test including preparation strategies can be found on the MCAT website.

MCAT results must be provided by the application closing date. For 2025 commencement, results from test dates during 2022, 2023 or 2024 (where the result will be available by the application closoing date) will be accepted.

MCAT minimum requirements: 

• International MD: overall score of 500 with no section under 124 

Prerequisites and recommended prior study

Applicants must complete a bachelor’s degree before commencing the MD. There are no preferred bachelor’s courses or specific prerequisites; however, there are recommended subjects in order to best prepare for the GAMSAT or MCAT.

Be aware that UWA does not endorse third party GAMSAT preparation courses or materials, including third party courses which may be held on UWA premises.It is advisable to instead build knowledge through university studies. 

Recommended prior study

It is recommended that applicants have undertaken at least:

• Physics to Year 12 ATAR level (or equivalent)
• Chemistry to first-year university level (including completion of Year 12 level chemistry)
• Biology or Human Biology at first-year university level

These subjects are not prerequisite; however, completion of these subjects will help prepare applicants for Medicine studies, as well as for the GAMSAT. Refer to the GAMSAT website for further information regarding preparation strategy.

Recommended UWA units

These units may be incorporated into a UWA bachelor’s degree as major, minor, elective or broadening units. Note these are recommendations and options; it is not a requirement to undertake every listed unit.  Some units have prerequisites – refer to the linked unit details. The unit details will also help you compare your own academic background if you have not studied at UWA.

Biology

ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human 
ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human 
BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology 
BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology 
SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell

Chemistry

CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics 
CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity 
CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry (required for students who have not completed ATAR Chemistry or equivalent)

Physics (for those without ATAR Physics)

PHYS1021 Applied Physics A 
PHYS1030 Physics Bridging Unit

Degree completion – conditional offers

Applicants who are eligible for a course offer during the final year of their initial bachelor’s degree will be made a conditional offer requiring them to:

• attain a minimum sGPA of 5.5 for semester two of the final year of their degree; and
• complete their bachelor’s degree requirements by 31 December the year prior to commencement. 

Applicants who are in progress of their initial bachelor’s degree must take care if undertaking any course of action which could delay the receipt of results or degree completion. This may include undertaking deferred/supplementary exams, undertaking units that fall outside normal semesters (e.g. summer units or trimester units) or going on exchange during the final year of study. Applicants who do not complete all requirements for their initial bachelor’s degree by the 31 December deadline will have their offer withdrawn.

All graduate applicants require a recognised bachelor’s degree to be considered for entry into this course. Applicants who have completed a higher degree without having completed a recognised bachelor’s degree will not be eligible for consideration.

Students who have not yet completed their initial Bachelor's degree may apply during their final year. A course offer in this case would be conditional on completion of all degree requirements by 31 December of the year prior to course commencement.

There is no 10-year rule for graduate entry into this course, which means that applicants with degrees older than 10 years, including the initial Bachelor's degree, will be considered should they meet the sGPA and other minimum eligibility requirements. 

sGPA calculation method

The UWA Admissions team will calculate the sGPA on a scale of 7.0 according to the GEMSAS calculation method, with some variations and clarifications:

• sGPA is calculated from the most recent completed study going back three years from semester one of the application year. A full-time equivalent (FTE) will be calculated where there are periods of part-time, overload or non-contiguous studies.
• Each year is weighted equally: ("GPA most recent year" + "GPA 2nd most recent year" + "GPA 3rd most recent year")/3.
• The sGPA for students who have not completed the equivalent of three full time years of study as at the application period will be calculated from available graded results. A minimum of one year FTE of graded results is required to calculate the sGPA.
• No preference or scaling is given to particular universities or fields of study.
• Special consideration cannot be granted as part of the admissions process for this course. sGPA will be calculated from an applicant's results as they appear on their transcript.
• sGPA as calculated by UWA may differ to that calculated according to the basic GEMSAS instructions.

What is included in the sGPA calculation

The sGPA calculation is from degree units going back in chronological order, regardless of exemptions, credit or advanced standing which may have been applied to the most recent degree. Where there are periods of part-time study, overloading, or non-continguous studies the equivalent of three full time years of study will be calculated. A minimum of one year FTE of graded results is required to calculate the sGPA.

The sGPA calculation includes recognised bachelor’s, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master’s by coursework studies, and takes into account complete research degree studies, that is, honours, master's by research and PhD levels of study. Research degree studies must be completed by the end of semester one of the application year (or equivalent period). Such degree studies due for completion later in the application year will not be taken into account. See information below regarding the treatment of research degree studies.

Recognised degrees are those conferred by Australian or overseas universities or higher education institutions recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), or the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR).

All graduate applicants for the DMD and International applicants for the MD must provide all transcripts for studies not undertaken at UWA with their UWA application.

Domestic MD applicants who have undertaken additional study (whether postgraduate or additional bachelor level study) should indicate and provide transcripts via the GEMSAS application (when prompted to by the application questions). For most Australian universities the GEMSAS application system will directly gather transcripts through the Automated Results Transfer System (ARTS).

Accelerated Bachelor's degrees and conversion courses 

UWA will accept recognised two-year accelerated bachelor’s degrees and one-year or two-year conversion degrees for the purpose of graduate admission into this course. Applicants who are in progress of a one-year conversion degree must complete that course before applying, unless they also hold a previously completed bachelor’s degree. A minimum of one year FTE of graded results is required to calculate the sGPA.

Postgraduate degrees by research

Applicants with a completed PhD at time of application will be awarded a sGPA of 7.0. Applicants with a completed master’s by research at time of application will be awarded a bonus of 0.2 to be added to their overall sGPA. Incomplete honours, master’s by research and PhDs are not considered in the sGPA calculation. In order to be included, all research degree requirements must be met by semester one of the application year (or the equivalent period).

Completed UWA Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)

Applicants who have completed UWA’s MD and are applying for the DMD will be awarded a sGPA of 7.0. Applicants who have completed UWA’s DMD and are applying for the MD will be awarded an sGPA of 7.0.

Ungraded passes

The credit value/unit weighting of ungraded passes will count towards the three years of FTE study; however, the result itself is left out of the calculation. For example, if a student has 0.125 FTE of ungraded pass in a particular year, that year's sGPA will be based on 0.875 FTE of results. Where an applicant has more than one year or FTE of ungraded passes within their most recent three years FTE the calculation will include results from older study where available.

A minimum of one year FTE of graded results is required to calculate the sGPA.

Ungraded or graded fails

Both the result and credit value/weighting of ungraded fails are included in the sGPA calculation. An ungraded fail will confer a sGPA result of 0 for that unit. All Fail results falling within the most recent three years FTE, whether graded or ungraded, will be included in the sGPA calculation.

COVID19 - Treatment of Results from Semester 1 2020

As a temporary measure due to impacts of COVID19, all results obtained from studies undertaken during Semester 1 2020, and concurrent non-standard study periods, were treated as ungraded pass/fail in the sGPA calculation. As the impact from this period on the overall sGPA has lessened, the sGPA calculation will now treat results from this period as shown on the transcript. Fail results that appear on the transcript will be included in the sGPA calculation (regardless of their treatment on the transcript GPA).

Minimal results in the current year of study

Where an applicant has 0.25 FTE (or less) of results for their final sGPA year, the calculation will include older study. Where no older study is available, the sGPA will be calculated from only the GPA 2nd most recent and GPA 3rd most recent years. Where there has been no older study, and if an applicant is made an offer, it will be conditional upon their performance in all enrolled units which had been incomplete during the application year (see information below about conditional offers).

Exchange studies/Cross-Institutional studies

The sGPA calculation will use the results that appear on the home university’s transcript. In most cases, such studies are shown as an ungraded pass or an ungraded fail. If an applicant has ungraded pass/fail units amounting to more than one year FTE of their most recent three FTE years of study, the Admissions team may require the applicant to provide the host university's actual graded results.

Credit/Exemptions/Advanced Standing

The sGPA is calculated from units that an applicant has undertaken in the most recent three study years FTE, regardless of credit/exemptions/advanced standing units which have been applied to the most recent degree. This will include any Fail results which fall within the most recent 3 years FTE.

Credit/Exemptions/Advanced Standing from pre-Bachelor's Diploma studies

Results from Diploma or other studies completed as a pathway to Bachelor degree studies will not be included in the sGPA calculation, including where such studies have been credited to a Bachelor's degree. 

Repeated units/subjects

Where an applicants has successfully completed a unit and later repeated the same unit (or an equivalent unit) the result from the second attempt will not be include in the GPA calculation, regardless of whether the unit was taken as part of degree studies.

If a unit has been repeated due to failing the first time, then the standard sGPA rules apply. That is, all units completed within the most recent three years of valid full time or equivalent study will be included in the calculation, including the fail result if it falls within the most recent three years FTE.

Not for degree studies

Results from individual units which are not taken as part of a degree are not included in the sGPA calculation, excepting where not-for-degree study constitutes more than 0.5 year of FTE study.

As an example, where an applicant's study includes 4 Access UWA undergraduate units within the most recent three years, these would not be included as the 4 units are equivalent to 0.5 year of FTE study. If 5 Access UWA undergraduate units have been undertaken within the most recent three years or full-time equivalent, these would be included in the sGPA calculation, as this exceeds 0.5 years of FTE study.

Further queries

Further queries may be addressed to the Admissions team. While advice can be provided regarding specific circumstances, a full sGPA calculation cannot be provided without a formal application.

Should you be shortlisted for an interview you will be provided with information to help you prepare and feel confident about what to expect on the day. 

Interviewees and interviewers are required to agree to a statement of confidentiality as a condition of participating in the interview process.

Interview periods and venues differ for graduate and school leaver, and domestic and international applicants - refer to your specific pathway information for further details including whether online interviews are being offered.

Domestic school leaver and domestic graduate interviews are in a multi mini interview (MMI) format with the process including registration taking approximately 70-75 minutes. The UWA MMI model consists of 8 numbered stations, each focussing on one question. Candidates will move between stations in numbered order, with a different interviewer at each station. Each station takes 7 minutes, consisting of 2 minutes to consider the question for that station and 5 minutes with the interviewer to verbally respond.

International school leaver and international graduate interviews are by a panel of two interviewers, with the process taking approximately 50 minutes including registration, introductions, and the formal questions. Typically there will be five MMI-style questions to be addressed within the interview. Each question is not specifically timed, although there is an overall time limit for the interview. Shortlisted candidates will be advised the number of questions as part of the preparation material provided prior to the interview.

At the interview you will respond to a set of questions designed to assess a variety of attributes considered desirable in healthcare practitioners. 

Attributes being assessed include accountability, ethical and moral judgement, communication skills, management skills, problem solving, self-awareness, teamwork/collaboration, conflict resolution, empathy, resilience. 

Questions are from a comprehensive pool and may be rotated between interviews. The questions are designed to encourage you to think broadly and to explain your reasoning. The assessment is evidence-based: interviewers are trained to assess you on what you have said in response to each individual question. 

Questions for each station will be provided in writing, and the interviewers may or may not ask follow-up questions. Interviewers are not required to read out the station question or to ask a specific set of follow-up questions.

There are no trick questions or traps. The interviewers are not looking for a specific “correct” answer. Be able to explain and back up your opinions.There are many excellent ways to address a question, and while questions will not require specific health care or scientific knowledge, some awareness of what these careers could involve will help. 

Interview preparation tips

Think about examples that relate to the above-listed attributes that you might talk about in response to a question. Consider how these attributes relate to your own experiences, your strengths and weaknesses, your personal qualities. How do you think these criteria relate to your future career as a health care professional? Think about times in your life when you have needed to display these attributes, and practice describing your examples out loud. Time yourself speaking out loud to get a feel for how much you can say within five minutes. This will help you to provide a structured response within the available time.

Practice speaking aloud, clearly and without rushing. Pay attention to the non-verbal aspects of your communication: positive facial expressions, body language and tone of voice. Think about how you would want a health care professional to talk to you. Ask your friends and family to provide feedback on your communication style.

At the interview the questions are provided in writing, and interviewers may or may not ask follow up questions during your response. Practice your reading comprehension in order to quickly identify key issues and think about what you may be able to talk about in response to a question. Time yourself to get a feel for how long it takes you to consider a question. Domestic candidates will have a timed two-minute period to consider each question prior to responding. While the International panel interview does not time individual questions, taking a long time to consider a question will reduce available time for response. Remember that our interviewers want you to be able to do your best, and can only assess you on what you say.

Be aware that UWA does not endorse or recommend commercial coaching organisations, including those who claim to provide information specific to UWA processes or hold their sessions on UWA premises. Keep in mind that the interview questions are changed each year and are not disclosed to course providers or other third parties.

The interviewer wants to hear what you have to say, not what someone else told you to say – the difference can be quite apparent, particularly when a number of candidates have all attended the same training.